Retractable cover assembly and draw cord carrier therefor



Aug. 28, 1962 J. H. LAMB 3,

RETRACTABLE COVER ASSEMBLY AND DRAW CORD CARRIER THEREFOR Filed Feb. 29, 1960 a 7 l8 F/G. F/IGI. A

INVENTOR. JOE H. LAMB ATTORNEYS 3,051,232 RETRACTABLE COVER ASSEMBLY AND DRAW CORD CARRIER THEREFOR Joe H. Lamb, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to Philip A. Mallinckrodt, Salt Lake City, Utah Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,737 1 Claim. (Cl. 160-272) This invention relates to retractable cover assemblies as used for protectively covering swimming pools when not in use, patios when covering is found to be desirable, etc. It is concerned also with structure for holding and guiding retractable covers which are operated by draw cords.

Commercially available covers of the type concerned utilize heavy and cumbersome supporting framework and mechanical components. As a result they are very expensive. Morever, no adequate provision is made for holding the margins of the covering sheet down when the cover is extended.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a draw cord actuated, retractable cover for swimming pools, patios, or the like which is simple and compact, relatively inexpensive, easy to operate, and not likely to get out of order.

In the achievement of this objective, utilizing a cover of flexible sheet material, such as plastic sheeting, I provide guide structure in the form of strips extending along the direction of cover extension and retraction laterally of the cover and serving as carriers for both the cover and the draw cord. The strips each comprise one or more lengths of a rigid structural shape having tubular longitudinal margins which are slit longitudinally to provide respective narrow openings extending continuously along the lengths of said such margins. The lateral edges of the cover are thickened to form respective continuous beads, which are received by and slide within and along the interiors of one of the tubular margins of the respective stripsthe cover margins passing through and sliding within and along the narrow slit openings and the breadth of the cover being retained and normally held taut by the beads which are thicker than such openings.

The draw cords are formed as longitudinal prolongations of the beads at the opposite lateral margins of the cover and loop back at corresponding ends of the strips into the other of the tubular margins, passing through and along the interiors thereof to the other ends of the strip where they are available for pulling to extend the cover along the strips.

The rigid structural shapes used for the guide strips are preferably metal or plastic extrusions and are believed to constitute invention in and of themselves.

Several embodiments of the apparatus representing what are presently regarded as the best modes of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 represents a fragmentary top perspective view of a typical retractable cover installation embodying the invention;

*FIG. 2, a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary bottom perspective view showing a preferred type of alignment-insuring joinder between two separate lengths of the structural shape making up the carrier strip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary perspective view, partly in vertical section, of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5, a similar view of still another embodiment.

Referring to the drawing:

The retractable cover assembly of FIGS. 1-3, which is 3,051,232 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 particularly useful as a swimming pool cover or as a patio cover, is made possible by elongate carrier strip 10, there being a strip at and extending along each of the opposite lateral sides of a flexible cover 25, usually canvas or a sheet of a tough and durable plastic material.

Lateral side edges of cover 25 are formed as beads 26, which are employed to hold the cover in and between strips 10. Each of these beads 26 is formed, in this instance, by folding an elongate strip of the cover material or some other suitable sheet material over a portion of the length of a draw cord 19 and stitching or otherwise securing such strip, as folded, to and along the appropriate margin of the cover, see the lines of stitching 27a, FIG. 1. The draw card 19 thus extends firom an end of the cover as a longitudinal prolongation of the bead,

Carrier strips 10 are advantageously formed from at leastone length 10-41 of a rigid, elongate, structural shape having tubular longitudinal margins 11 and 12 which are slit longitudinally by respective, relatively narrow, rectilinear openings 13 and 14 extending continuously along the lengths thereof.

Each shape length 101 is configurated to include a longitudinal bottom groove 15 which not only makes for economy of material but. also enables the individual lengths to be conveniently joined in precise alignment by means of short channel sections 16. As so aligned and joined, the separate lengths 10-1 of each strip 10 are secured to mounting base 17 as by means of screws 18.

Tubular longitudinal margins 11 and 12 guide and support draw cord 19 for movement in and along respective tubular openings 20 and 21 within which the cord may be easily replaced through rectilinear openings 13 and 14. Draw cord 19 is conveniently looped about pulley 22 for ease of passage from one tubular margin to the other. The pulley 22 is rotatably mounted on a pin 23 extending down from the top of carrier strip 10 in a cross milled portion 24 thereof although, it could be mounted in the open on base 17 for the same purpose.

Each bead edge 26 is adapted for being held within tubular margin 11 of elongate carrier strip 10. This important feature of the retract-able cover assembly is shown in detail in FIG. 2 to be a cover edge bead 26 thicker than rectilinear opening 13 through which cover 25 extends. Draw cord :19 is a longitudinal prolongation of bead 26 advantageously used for moving flexible cover 25 back and forth by sliding the bead longitudinally within the tubular opening 20 of strip margin 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, elongate carrier strip 30 is substantially contained in groove 31 of base 32 where it is fastened down by screws 33. Tubular margins 34 and 35 of this arrangement have outwardy extended lower lips 36 and 37. Draw cord 38 is carried within margins 34 and 35 and looped about a pulley (not shown) for passage from one tubular margin to the other in the same manner as with the embodiment of FIG. 1. The relatively narrow, rectilinear openings 39 and 40 of margins 34 and 35 in this embodiment conveniently open up- Wardly for easy draw cord 38 replacement therethrough.

The cover edge head 41 is formed by an edge of flexible cover 42 folded around draw cord 38 and stitched or cemented in place. This cover edge bead 41 is securely held within margin 34, because it is thicker than rectilinear opening 39, and is easily slid longitudinally back and forth within margin 34 by draw cord 38 which is a. longitudinal prolongation of bead 41. The lower lip 36 of margin 34 guides and holds flexible cover 42 above base 32. Bottom groove 43 of carrier strip 30 corresponds to groove 15 in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, elongate carrier strip 45 is mounted on base 46 by screws 47. The rigid, elongate, structural shape of carrier strip 45 presents a relatively thick tubular margin 48 and tapers transversely to a thin edge 49. A bottom groove 50, corresponding to groove 15 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is provided in strip 45. Tubular margin 48 holds and guides draw cord Si -and a cover edge bead (not shown) corresponding to head 41 or bead 26 of the other embodiments. Draw cord 51 may be easily replaced in tubular margin 48 through the relatively narrow, rectilinear opening 52 extending longitudinally the length thereof.

A tubular passage 53 extending longitudinally the length of carrier strip 45 between groove 50 and edge 49 or draw cord 51 return has a relatively narrow, rectilinear opening 54 extending longitudinally the length thereof. Opening 54 provides for replacement of draw cord 51 therein; however, since it opens to longitudinal downwardly facing cavity 55, strip 45 must be un-fastened from base 46 for such cord 51 replacement. Draw cord 51 is looped around a pulley (not shown) for passage between tubular margin 48 and tubular passage 53 in the same manner as with the other embodiments.

Whereas there are here illustrated and described certain preferred constructions which I presently regard as the best mode of carrying out my invention, it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the disclosed inventive subject matter particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed herebelow.

I claim:

A retractable cover assembly, comprising an elongate carrier strip formed from a plurality of lengths of a 4 rigid, elongate, structural shape aligned end-to-end, each of said lengths having tubular longitudinal margins which have respective, relatively narrow, rectilinear openings extending continuously along their lengths, and adjoining end portions of adjoining lengths having bottom channels formed longitudinally thereof and opening into the adjoining ends of said lengths in registering alignment with each other; joint-bridging inserts snugly fitted within the bottom channels of respective sets of adjoining ends for maintaining said lengths and the tubular margins and rectilinear openings thereof in exact alignment; a flexible sheet cover having an edge formed as a bead which is thicker than the width of said openings and is adapted for passage within and along one of said margins; a draw cord forming a longitudinal prolongation of said head and extending within and along the interior of said one tubular margin and within and along the interior of the other of said tubular margins; and means at one end of said carrier strip about which said draw cord is looped for passage from one of said tubular margins to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,754,900 Karobonik et al. July 17, 1956 2,761,499 Ohlander Sept. 4, 1956 2,786,522 Weber Mar. 26-, 1957 2,898,607 McGuire Aug. 11, 1959 

